Wednesday, August 01, 2007

My First Ever Nerd Classic-I Made Pictures

This was my first San Diego Comic Con adventure so I guess I should post something. I was there to support Local and the announcement of The New York Four and to buy small plastic Japanese monster movie toys.

I guess I was supposed to to try to further my career or something but I usually get overwhelmed at these things and I just clam up and wander around outside looking for a bar or cheap fish tacos. I feel like a total knuckleknob going up to editors, asking for work so I just say "hi, how's the kids?" and hope somebody calls with a job in the next year. I got to meet up with a lot of old friends and peers and coworkers and I met some new creators that I really admire, too many to begin to mention. I've been extremely Laissez-fare about about my career which is not healthy. But I had fun. I'm still working on Funrama and I hope to have a publisher on board soonish. I got to say hi to Bob Schreck for the first time. I saw a Pink Storm Trooper in a dress. I was on my first panel and I have no recollection as to what came out of my mouth.

I'm not very talented at schmoozing but I'm really good at sitting on the beach alone staring at the setting sun and thinking existential thoughts on life and death and $8 Convention tuna sandwiches.

My Motel 6 bedsheet-complete with cigarrete burns and rancid smells. It just needs a few Yodas sprinkled within that emaculate design for complete sleeping satisfaction.

This was the most refreshing place to sit and relax and yet no one was ever sitting here except for the homeless people. Sad. I heard that San Diego was a fairly Republican town but it didn't quite hit me until I saw tons of homeless people sleeping on every street. My White Male Reality Guilt started to sink in everyday as I walked to this monstrosity of commercialism and money and passed by all the poor people. Back in good ol' Blue-blooded Minnesota, we have a ton of shelters so at least those services are available.

Fight!

I ended up doing a horde of sketches, most of which I neglected to take photos of. I did many Megans.

...And a few Death sketches like this.

View from the Oni table.

Kevin Murphy! A genius, a Crop-dusting GENIUS! I met my heroes this convention-Mike , Bill, Kevin, the whole MST3k gang. Mr. Crow and Tom Servo were even on my flight home! What a treat. The Film Crew (essentially a Mystery Science Theater 3000 reunion) panel and screening was amazing and it was PACKED. A whole auditorium of people on the floor laughing.I got their first DVD release Hollywood After Dark, starring a young Rue McClanahan.

4 Comments:

Jeffrey said...

It was cool seeing you at the con ryan. Thanks for the AMAZING "doodle" you sketched me. Was so good that i paid you more than i owed haha but was well worth it. I dont know if this means anything to you but just want to let you know that Ill pray for you to win the harvey award. Best wishes, you deserve it.

I know what you mean about approaching people at the con. As much as I'd like to meet a lot of artists and writers, I hate going up to 'em and trying to converse. What do I say? "I read your blog"? "I like your work"? I somethimes feel like I should try to come up with some very interesting question that shows I've done my research, but then I just think that I'd come off like some wierd obsessed fanboy. So, I usually end up just flipping through thier portfolio or listen to the conversations they're having with all of the wierd obsessed fanboys surrounding the table. ; )

Anyway.... Here's a link to one of your sketches from the con. It may be the same one you posted, but I'm not certain.

Hey!Meeting the MST3K gang was the highlight of my trip as well!Feel free to enjoy this picture of myself and my girlfriend grinning like idiots as we have our picture taken with them.Oh, also, if you click on it, there are some anecdotal notes.Oh, also, also, I really like your art.

About Me

Ryan Kelly is an illustrator, painter and comic artist who's done work for WIRED and SPIN magazine as well as DC, Darkhorse, Image and Oni comics. I live in Minnesota with 3 children, 1 wife and 2 cats. email at funrama@gmail.com